The President's Humble Substitute Secretary

Chapter 5: Rejected

For the next few days that followed, Florence couldn't shake off that unsettling feeling that she was being followed.

At first she thought she had only been overreacting after her encounter with her ex boyfriend but the feeling grew. When she's leaving her apartment or taking a simple stroll down the street,that strange prickly feeling always crawls across the back of her neck.

She was very sure that someone was watching her.

Every time she turned around, there was nothing there.

Just strangers minding their own business.

"It's probably him" Lucia had said when she told her. "He'd never hurt you with so many witnesses around."

Still that did nothing to call her down. No one knew what he was capable of doing. He didn't care about anyone.

Now, sitting at her desk outside Arturo Fanucci's office, Florence tried to stop herself from worrying and focus on the task at hand.

Today was his birthday.

A small paper bag sat carefully on the corner of her desk. She glanced at it every few seconds, her fingers nervously tapping the wooden surface. She wondered if he was going to like it.

It had taken her days of over thinking and second guessing herself to finally pick a gift but the thought that he wouldn't like it kept gnawing at her heart.

Inside the bag was a handcrafted fountain pen made of dark walnut and engraved with a subtle gold design. She couldn't deny that it was way too expensive for just a pen but it was worth it. She noticed that the pen he's using is almost empty and it would show that she cared about something as little as that.

She had even asked the shop to engrave something small along the barrel which cost an extra charge.

'For the man who builds empires.'

The elevator dinged causing her heart to stand pounding.

Florence straightened her posture immediately while pretending to be so engrossed in work.

Arturo stepped out.

It was as though the world always came to a stop whenever he was around. His dark suit was perfectly tailored to fit him,his black hair combed neatly back and his sharp features set in their usual cold expression.

Florence stood up before greeting him but he only walked past her as if she hadn't said a word before entering his office.

Florence decided to wait a few minutes, her heart thumped nervously.

She gave him a few minutes to settle before standing up. Grabbing the gift bag, she quickly hid it behind her back.

Then she knocked.

"Come in."

She opened the door slowly.

Arturo was already seated behind his massive desk, reviewing documents with his usual intense focus. All that man cared about was work.

"Good morning, sir," she greeted.

He didn't look up immediately, his eyes still scanning across the papers in the desk.

"What do you want?"

Florence swallowed, her palm suddenly becoming sweaty.

Her fingers tightened around the paper bag behind her back.

"I... um..." she began, suddenly feeling like every word had disappeared from her brain.

Finally, he looked up.

His dark eyes settled on her, knocking the breath out of her lungs.

"What is it?" he repeated, more impatient and irritated this time.

"I just... Happy birthday," she blurted.

Arturo's hand froze over the papers.

For the first time since she had known him, his expression actually changed.

His eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to study her and find out all of her secrets.

Then his gaze slowly lifted to her face.

"What?" he asked.

Florence cleared her throat nervously.

"I... I got you a gift," she stammered. "Happy birthday sir"

Her hands moved from behind her back, placing the small bag carefully on his desk.

A hopeful smile appeared on her face.

For a moment, he simply stared at the bag.

Then he reached for it which made Florence to hold her breath.

His expression remained unreadable.

And then without warning...

He threw the bag at her feet.

Her smile disappeared instantly.

"Did I tell you that I wanted a gift from you?" Arturo asked, voice cold.

The anger in his voice made her flinch.

"I do not want anything especially from you"

Florence's cheeks burned with humiliation.

"I just thought..."

"I don't care about what you were thinking. Stay out of my business" he cut in harshly. "Or you'll lose your job"

The words felt like a slap.

"It won't happen again. I'm so sorry." She whispered immediately. "I just wanted to..."

"I've met a lot of girls just like you" he cut her off again,his tone dripping with irritation and disgust. "Stop trying to impress me and just do the job you're paid to do"

Florence's throat tightened.

Her eyes burned but she forced herself not to cry.

"I'm sorry," she repeated quietly. "This won't happen again"

Bending down, she picked up the bag and without saying another word she made her way out of his office.

Back at her desk, she stared at the gift for a few seconds.

Then slowly, she stood up and walked to the nearby trash can and threw the bag inside.

Returning to her desk, she sat down and tried to focus on her work but she couldn't get rid of the regret that clung to her chest.

What was I even thinking,getting him a gift?

That day, Arturo gave her more work than usual. Tasks piled up on her desk until it felt impossible to keep up.

Still, Florence didn't complain.

She worked quietly, determined to finish everything. She couldn't help but want to prove herself to him.

_____

Late that evening, Arturo finally stepped out of his office, his jacket draped over his arm as he prepared to leave for the night.

As he passed Florence's desk, his gaze flickered briefly toward the nearby trash can.

For a split second, a small part of him wondered what exactly she had bought.

But the thought vanished almost immediately.

He kept walking.

His eyes shifted briefly toward Florence.

She was still hunched over her desk, struggling to stay awake as she worked through the stack of documents he had given her.

I don't care that she's tired and working late, he thought to himself.

And then he walked out.

Florence slowly lifted her head.

Her tired eyes followed his retreating figure.